Abstract: A system and method for downloading content in a peer-to-peer network are described including receiving, by a first peer, a list of content available in the peer-to-peer network, requesting, by the first peer, content availability information for a unit of content and receiving, by the first peer, content availability information. A system and method for downloading content in a peer-to-peer network are also described including forwarding, content availability information in response to a request for the content availability information, wherein the content availability information includes a location of a unit of content and a status of each peer in the peer-to-peer network having the unit of content available and receiving a reservation to schedule a download of the unit of content. The system and method also include the ability to allow delayed downloading of the in accordance with a reservation for said content.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a cable system comprises a port for receiving a downstream cable transmission; a demodulator for receiving an upstream signal for providing a demodulated signal; and a modulator for modulating the demodulated signal for providing a downstream signal for addition to the received downstream cable transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting data are described including partitioning a stream of data into a plurality of sub-streams, establishing an allocation of the plurality of sub-streams among a plurality of sending devices, enabling the plurality of sending devices to simultaneously begin transmitting the plurality of sub-streams in accordance with the allocation and adjusting the allocation.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a mosaic view in a cable Internet Protocol (IP) network is provided including a mosaic server, disposed at a cable head end, configured for receiving standard streams and mosaic streams over a cable network and selecting desired mosaic streams for forming a personalized mosaic view. A processing unit is provided configured for sending requests to the mosaic server for mosaic streams in accordance with user preferences.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting video signals to a plurality of receivers in a multicast session, including controlling and adapting coding, transmission and protection schemes of a plurality of layers of a network protocol stack are described.

Abstract: A method for enabling an access device to securely access content from at least a content provider and prevent a cloned access device from accessing such content. During registration of the access device with the content provider, the access device requests from a designated certificate authority a certificate having a public key of the content provider therein. Upon authentication of the certificate, the access device generates a key and uses the public key to exchange the key with the content provider. The key is then used for subsequent secure communications between the access device and the content provider. In this manner, a cloned device does not have access to the key and is unable to download content from the content provider.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described comprising detecting a playback operation, determining a target playback point for the playback operation and detecting a sub-clip type into which the target playback point falls. The method and apparatus also receive a streamed leading sub-clip, determine a set of needed sub-clips, locate one of the set of needed sub-clips and download the located sub-clip.

Abstract: A method is described including receiving a streamed leading content sub-clip, determining a set of needed content sub-clips, locating one of the set of needed content sub-clips and downloading the located content sub-clip. A system for providing content-on-demand is described having a peer, a server and a tracker. The tracker may be co-located with the server. The peer includes means for receiving a streamed leading content sub-clip, means for determining a set of needed content sub-clips, means for locating one of the set of needed content sub-clips and means for downloading the located content sub-clip.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a cable system comprises a first port for use in coupling to a portion of a cable network for receiving an upstream signal having a frequency spectrum including a first frequency band; and a reflector for reflecting the received upstream signal back downstream via the first port; wherein the first frequency band is different from those frequency bands used by a head-end of the cable network for Internet communications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including mapping a multicast connection to a unicast uniform resource identifier, establishing a state for a multicast-to-unicast conversion, allocating ports, receiving multicast addressed data packets and converting the multicast addressed data packets to unicast addressed data the packets.

Abstract: A system and method for broadcasting content includes a content provider which interfaces with one or more clients through a network. The content provider includes a scheduler responsive to requests for content from clients. The scheduler provides the content in blocks by making the blocks available to requesters by a plurality of streams wherein a subsequent requester accesses blocks from previous requester's streams complemented by a subset of blocks as a stream for this requester to complete an entire set of blocks for the subsequent requester. By manipulating the scheduler as a function of user requests, this system and method is able to provide a video on demand service at a fractional bandwidth usage of a conventional VOD system.

Abstract: A satellite receiver includes a down converter for providing a received signal and a demodulator having at least two demodulation modes for demodulating the received signal, wherein one demodulation mode is hierarchical demodulation and another demodulation mode is layered demodulation.

Abstract: A customer-side receiver unit and method include a network interface module for receiving multiplexed information in the form of one or more of voice, audio, visual and data from a head-end network. A transport layer termination entity terminates layers of protocol associated with the information. A transport converter is coupled to the transport layer termination entity to convert streaming data in the information to a format usable by a local network. A dedicated stream port is coupled to the transport converter to output the streaming data content to the local network.

Abstract: A method for enabling access to digital rights managed (DRM) content from a server to a portable playback device using a device that functions as a proxy for enabling communication between the server and the portable playback device. The method provides for establishing a connection with a device capable of operating as a gateway device for passing data between the portable playback device and the server, requesting that the device establish a connection with the server and operate as a proxy for enabling data exchange between the portable playback device and the server, sending to the server, upon establishing the connection with the server via the device operating as a proxy, data indicating DRM solutions supported by the portable playback device, and a list comprising requested DRM content to be downloaded to the portable playback device, and receiving from the server, via the device operating as a proxy, the requested DRM content and DRM rules associated with the received content.

Abstract: A content delivery system comprises at least one content server that servers a number of client requests. The content server uses a Threshold-Based Normalized Rate Earliest Delivery First (TB-NREDF) scheduler. The TB-NREDF scheduler imposes a threshold value, or limit, on the number of rescheduling requests.

Abstract: A cable network tap comprises a first port for coupling to an upstream portion of a cable network and for receiving a downstream signal; a second port for coupling to a downstream portion of the cable network and receiving an upstream signal; and a filter for filtering at least one of the downstream signal and the upstream signal. The filter has a bandwidth that is adjustable in accordance with a plurality of cable network bandwidth configurations, each cable network bandwidth configuration allocating bandwidth differently between upstream communications and downstream communications over at least a portion of the cable network.

Abstract: An implementation provides a transmitter that separates sequential portions of data in a first set of data by time intervals allowing a power saving mode (1005). The transmitter transmits the sequential portions of data separated by respective time intervals having lengths configured to allow a receiver to enter and exit a power saving mode between receiving sequentially transmitted portions of data from the first set of data (1010). The transmitter separates sequential portions of data in a second set by time intervals that are not of sufficient length to allow a receiver to enter and exit a power saving mode during the time intervals (1015). The second set of data is then transmitted (1020).

Abstract: A system for passing content data from a subscription service to a portable media device is provided. The system has a set-top box for receiving the content data from the subscription service. A data storage device is operatively connected with the set-top box. A preprocessor is operatively connected to the data storage device. It applies encryption to the content data and has an output to the portable media device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for information transfer using a cache server are disclosed. A user requests a file via a file requesting device, over a network, from a host. The host transfers the file to a cache server over a connection at a first scheduled time. The cache server then transfers the file, over a second network, to a file receiving device at a second scheduled time.

Abstract: A satellite communications system comprises a transmitting ground station, including a transmitter and a receiver, a satellite transponder and a receiving ground station. The transmitter transmits an uplink signal to the satellite transponder, which broadcasts the received uplink signal as a downlink signal to the receiving ground station. The transmitting ground station monitors the downlink signal through the receiver and calculates log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) as a function of the monitored downlink signal. These LLRs are illustratively stored in a look-up table, which are then transmitted to the receiving ground station for use in recovering data from a received data signal.